Jefferson County Housing Unit Occupancy Statistics

A housing unit is a space where people live—such as a house, an apartment, a mobile home or trailer, or other forms of living quarters. The people who occupy a housing unit form a household.

The American Community Survey (ACS), conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, publishes detailed estimates about housing each year. Unlike the Census—which is an exact count of people and households every ten years—ACS statistics are estimated based on a representative survey sample.

For locations with populations under 60,000, the ACS is only available in 5-year estimates, rather than single-year periods. The 5-year estimates provide greater geographical granularity but a less granular time period.

How many housing units in Jefferson County, Missouri are occupied or vacant?

How many housing units in Jefferson County, Missouri are owner- or renter-occupied?

A housing unit's occupants may be its owners or renters. The term tenure refers to this distinction.

How do the size of households and housing units vary by tenure in Jefferson County, Missouri?

By Household Size

By Number of Rooms

What do Jefferson County housing units use for heating fuel?

Heating Fuel: Utility Gas and Electricity

The most commonly-used heating fuels are utility gas and electricity. The chart below breaks down Jefferson County housing units by these heating fuels.

Other Heating Fuel

Utility gas and electricity are by far the two most common sources of heat for American housing units. The chart below breaks down Jefferson County housing units by less commonly-used heating fuels. Note the sizable difference between the number of households using utility gas and electricity versus other heating fuels.

How is the quality of occupied housing units in Jefferson County?

The ACS asks questions about the presence of hot and cold running water, a bathtub or shower, a sink with a faucet, a stove or range, and a refrigerator to create statistics about indicators of housing quality. Federal and local governments use these estimates to identify areas eligible for housing assistance, rehabilitation loans, and other programs that help people access and afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing. Public health officials may also use this information to locate areas in danger of ground water contamination and waterborne diseases.

While the presence of these facilities in the home has increased over time, there are still areas in the United States where they are not available. Individual items (hot and cold running water, etc.) are asked about separately on the ACS to allow housing analysts to evaluate individual indicators of housing quality, and determine which items are lacking in particular areas.